WRE News: Art Deco Weekend Returns This Week Amidst Historic Preservation Battles

Miami Beach, FL – January 9, 2024 – In the vibrant tapestry of Miami Beach, Art Deco architecture defines the city’s identity. Celebrated annually during Art Deco Weekend, this year held from January 12 to 14, the iconic style transforms the city into a living masterpiece. With its concentration along Ocean Drive and the Art Deco Historic District, Miami Beach becomes a captivating journey through the late 1920s, reminiscent of “The Great Gatsby” era. Originally an afterthought, Miami Beach’s transformation into a global tourist destination began with the inception of the Miami Design Preservation League. Their initiative, starting as a street festival, now thrives as Art Deco Weekend, attracting over 100,000 attendees. Beyond the festivities, the event serves as a crucial educational outreach, preserving and promoting historic architecture in the face of modern challenges. However, the theme for Art Deco Weekend 2024, “Celebrating Florida’s Historic Coastal Communities,” reflects a deeper concern. Climate change and legislative actions pose threats to the historic preservation of Miami Beach’s famed structures. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, impact the very essence of these architectural treasures. A proposed bill put forth by Miami Springs Republican State Senator Bryan Ávila aims to streamline the process for private developers to demolish old buildings, including cherished Art Deco structures, in storm-prone coastal areas and replace them with new developments. While the bill is framed as a response to the need for climate resilience in the face of rising sea levels and stronger storms, critics argue that it serves as a deceptive ploy. The fear is that it could potentially enable developers to circumvent existing protections for historic buildings. As discussions unfold in the state legislature, the battle between preservationists and developers intensifies, with the fate of Florida’s architectural heritage hanging in the balance.